Occupy Palm Beach Protesters Arrested After Literally Attaching Themselves to Old City Hall With PVC Pipe, Duct Tape

Despite eviction notices from the city of Palm Beach, Occupy protesters refused to leave their encampment at the old City Hall -- to the point where they literally duct-taped themselves to the structure -- and were swiftly arrested on Monday.

According to WPTV the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deployed its Emergency Field Force to old City Hall in the wee hours before 5 a.m. and began rooting out approximately a dozen Occupy Palm Beach County demonstrators, arresting many from the group. Some had reportedly wrapped their arms in a combination of PVC piping and duct tape in an effort to physically attach themselves to a pipe on the second floor balcony.

In fact, a fire rescue crew was required to use a special tool to cut the piping and tape from protesters' arms without causing injury.

WPTV adds:

So far, deputies have confirmed the arrests of Jacqueline Bryant, John Pope, Frazier Williams and Peter Olegevich.

Olegevich was charged with trespassing only. Bryant, Pope and Frazier are charged with trespassing, resisting arrests without violence and criminal mischief. Frazier had a previous warrant for his arrest.

The streets at the intersection of North Olive Avenue and Banyan Boulevard were temporarily closed while Fire Rescue used ladders to reach protesters camped on the second-floor balcony. [...]

The demonstrators are part of a nationwide movement demanding reforms in banking, housing and corporate regulations. Their North Olive Avenue and Banyan Boulevard encampment was the third site the group occupied in West Palm Beach since late October. They had been at the site since late last year.

According to the report, protesters held their ground at the old City Hall site despite warnings since late February from police that they would be subject to arrest.